“Mary is the general of the armies of God. The angels form the most glorious troops of her who is terrible as an army set in battle array!” (Boudon: The Angels.)

From the first, the angels were invoked in the Legion prayers. Every legionary, active and auxiliary, has a guardian angel who fights blow for blow at his side.

In some of the liturgies St. Gabriel and St. Michael are jointly hailed as: champions and princes, leaders of the heavenly army; captains of the angels; servants of the divine glory; guardians and guides of human creatures. St. Gabriel is the Angel of the Annunciation.

“Although the prince of all the heavenly court, St. Michael is the most zealous in honouring Mary and causing her to be honoured, while he waits always in expectation that he may have the honour to go at her bidding to render service to some one of her servants.” (St. Augustine)

No saint has played a greater part in the development of the Legion than he. The handbook is full of his spirit. The prayers re-echo his very words. He is really the tutor of the Legion: thus invocation is due to him by the Legion almost as a matter of moral obligation.  He was canonised on 20 July, 1947, and his feast occurs on 28 April.

That evening I received a message on my answering machine to call this very lady. After a short prayer I cautiously returned her call. She had called the Parish Priest and he had listened to her story and gave her my phone number. She quietly related what was happening behind that door we knocked on for Jesus and Mary.

Designated in the Gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” St. John appears therein as the model of devotion to the Sacred Heart. Faithful to the end, he clung to that Heart till he saw it stilled and pierced in death. Afterwards, he is manifested as the model of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

What has the Legion of Mary to Offer to Young People ?

The question is often asked "what has the Legion to offer to young people?" The simple answer which could be given is -a great start in life - a great basis for a happy and fulfilled existence. Most people who have been in the Legion of Mary even for a short time in their youth, tend not to forget the happy experience, even when other events or distractions have crowded membership out of their lives. However, I would tend to pin-point the following special advantages.

Increase in their own Faith with an apostolic attitude to the needs of others

The whole Legion system is based on the main doctrines of the Church, which is the Mass, the Eucharist, the love of God and our neighbour, the special place of Our Lady and a practical knowledge of the Mystical Body of Christ. At each successive meeting the members are taught through the Spiritual Reading, the Allocutio and the reports, to learn to live the practice of these doctrines. Moreover, conviction of the value of their own Faith is very much strengthened by their being taught to be ready to defend the Faith and to stand up and be counted where necessary, and to be anxious about the spiritual welfare of those around them, especially their own age group.

 As Father Aedan McGrath frequently stated when he worked with the Irish in Britain, "the surest way to keep one's own Faith is to be actively interested in the Faith of others." True, it can be argued that such an interest can exist without membership of the Legion or any organisation. However, a weekly meeting with a weekly work obligation for which we will be asked to render an account is for most of us the easier way. In fact, most of us could say that we did little for the Church on any regular basis before we joined the Legion and it is likely we would return to this state were we to leave it.

The devotional aspect of the Legion is very important for young legionaries as otherwise they will inevitably drift towards purely social work. A working knowledge of De Montfort's True Devotion is perfectly within the capabilities of young people.

In the Legion we make real friends and are influenced by them

The second benefit may at first seem a strange one, but long experience has shown this to be a fact and well worth mentioning. Anyone of any age who has been in the organisation for any length of time will tell that one of the greatest benefits of membership is that one makes not just friends but sincere friend- ships. Strangely enough, even where membership does not continue, people who have met in the Legion tend to remain friends after leaving. Young people are no different. Healthy friendships develop and anyone who has dealings with the youth of today will have no doubt about the importance of making the right type of friends at an early age. Friendships formed by meeting weekly will be strong ones, but friendships made by people who are being formed in the same kind of mould cannot but provide the support necessary for the great adverse pressures put on the young in modem times.

Something will be tackled by some brave young person and will be readily copied by others, for this is the way in reverse that harm is done to the weaker ones of our society.

Training in Discipline and Relating well to others

There are many who would subscribe to the view that young people today are hungry for discipline which is not too often found in their lives. The Legion of Mary offers in its system a firm, but gentle discipline which, although stringent enough seems to pose no problem in membership. On the other hand, the system does give great training in courage and relating well to others. Time and time again, very ordinary young people will be found to compile and give a report on some meeting or happening, with an expertise far beyond what would normally be expected of them. The Legion values and encourages all contributions according to the members capabilities and experience. Countless legionaries have testified that their Legion training helped them considerably to face interviews, to cope well with their job or profession and in many ways helped them a lot in their day-to-day life. Many have gone on to enter Seminaries and the Religious life. The net result seems to be that in return for their generous commitment of some of their free time working for the Church on a regular basis, young legionaries receive a great help in character building and an opportunity to base their Faith on a solid and apostolic foundation.

Prayer with Action

In the Legion’s prayers, St. Joseph’s name follows the invocations to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, as he ranks next to them in the Court of Heaven. He was head of the Holy Family, fulfilling in regard to Jesus and Mary a primary and altogether special part.

1. The picture is a powerful image of the devotional outlook of the Legion.
2. The original Legion picture was painted by a brilliant young Dublin artist as an offering to the Legion. As might be expected from work animated by this spirit, the picture is one of extreme beauty and inspiration.
3. The legionary prayers are made visible. The invocation and prayer of the Holy Spirit and the Rosary are pictured by the Dove overshadowing Mary, filling her with light and the fire of his love. In these prayers the Legion honours the moment which is the centre-point of all time. Mary's consent to the Incarnation, making her both Mother of God and Mother of Divine Grace. There is also allusion to Pentecost, where Mary was the channel of that other outpouring of the Holy Spirit which may be called the birth of the Church.
4. The Catena is represented, as to its name, by the chain-border. The antiphon “Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?” is the portrayal of Mary. On her brow she bears a brilliant star, to mark her who is the true Morning Star, heralding the dawn of salvation.
5. The Magnificat is represented by its opening verse, set in letters of fire above her head. The versicle and response are those of the Immaculate Conception, a primary devotion of the Legion, which is expressed in the crushing of the serpent.
6. The words set in the border: Inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem et semen tuum et semen illius; ipsum conteret caput tuum. "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head." (Gen 3:15) have the same reference. The picture shows this undying warfare: Mary and the serpent; her children and the serpent's offspring; the Legion and the powers of evil, which fall back scattered in defeat.
7. At the top of the picture is the Holy Spirit the giver of all good gifts: below, the globe surrounded by the good and the bad, typifying the world of souls: between the two, Mary full of grace, all aflame with charity, the universal channel of intercession and distribution.
8. The words in the border: Mulier, ecce filius tuus: . . . Ecce mater tua. "Woman, here is your son . . . Here is your mother." (Jn 19:26-27) point to Mary’s spiritual maternity of those who like St. John have lovingly accepted her as mother.
9. The concluding prayers are mirrored in every line of the picture. The Legion is depicted as a host innumerable, advancing in battle-array under the leadership of its Queen and bearing her standards, "the crucifix in their right hands, the Rosary in their left, the sacred names of Jesus and Mary in their hearts and the modesty and mortification of Jesus Christ in their behaviour" (St. Louis-Marie de Montfort). Their faith is represented by the Pillar of Fire which melts all legionary hearts into one, and guides them on to victory and to the Land of Eternal Promise. The pillar is Mary who saved the world by her faith "Blessed is she who believed." Beata quae credidit (Lk 1:45) in the border and who now, through encircling gloom, leads on unerringly those who call her blessed, until the everlasting splendour of the Lord God come upon them.

"In the Old Testament we read that the Lord conducted his people from Egypt to the land of promise, 'by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire.' (Ex 13:21) This stupendous pillar, at one time of cloud and at another of fire, was a figure of Mary and of the various offices which she performs on our behalf." (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

Opening Prayers

(Make the Sign of the Cross)
In the name of the Father, etc.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
v. Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

God our Father, pour out the gifts of Your Holy Spirit on the world. You sent the Spirit on Your Church to begin the teaching of the gospel: now let the, Spirit continue to work in the world through the hearts of all who believe. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

v. You, O Lord, will open my lips.
R. And my tongue shall announce Your praise.
v. Incline unto my aid, O God.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
v. Glory be to the Father, etc.
R. As it was in the beginning, etc.

Then follow five decades of the Rosary with the Hail, Holy Queen.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

v. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

v. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
R. Have mercy on us.
v. Immaculate Heart of Mary
R. Pray for us.
v. St. Joseph
R. Pray for us.
v. St John the Evangelist
R. Pray for us.
v. St. Louis-Marie deMontfort
R. Pray for us.

Make the Sign of the Cross)
In the name of the Father, etc.

The Catena Legionis

Antiphon. Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?

(Make the Sign of the Cross)
v. My soul glorifies the Lord.*
R. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
v. He looks on His servant in her lowliness;*
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.

R. The Almighty works marvels for me.*
Holy His name!
v. His mercy is from age to age,*
on those who fear Him.

R. He puts forth His arm in strength*
and scatters the proud-hearted.
v. He casts the mighty from their thrones*
and raises the lowly.

R. He fills the starving with good things,*
sends the rich away empty.

v. He protects Israel His servant,*
remembering His mercy,
R. The mercy promised to our fathers,*
to Abraham and his sons for ever.

v. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit..
R. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon. Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?

v. O Mary, conceived without sin.
R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our mediator with the Father, Who has been Pleased to appoint the Most Blessed Virgin, Your mother, to be our mother also, and our mediatrix with You, mercifully grant that whoever comes to You seeking Your favours may rejoice to receive all of them through her. Amen.

Concluding Prayers

Make the Sign of the Cross)
In the name of the Father, etc.

We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our prayers in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

v. Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces
or Invocation appropriate to Praesidium)
R. Pray for us.
v. Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
R. Pray for us.
v. All you heavenly Powers, Mary's Legion of Angels
R. Pray for us.
v. St John the Baptist
R. Pray for us.
v. Sts Peter and Paul
R. Pray for us.

Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of faith in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world. Grant us a lively faith, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbor; a faith, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life; a courageous faith which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls; a faith which will be our Legion's Pillar of Fire - to lead us forth united - to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love - to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death - to inflame those who are lukewarm - to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that - the battle of life over - our Legion may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen.

May the souls of our departed legionaries and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Make the Sign of the Cross)
In the name of the Father, etc.